Another top official of NNPCL in the refinery told LEADERSHIP Sunday: “The Port Harcourt refinery cannot make any products in the foreseeable future, because the units cannot take in crude oil for processing.
The rehabilitation work has NOT been completed. The federal government and NNPC know this truth but will not admit it publicly. In fact, no crude oil has been supplied to the refinery to date, for the same reason.”
Akinyelure said his team had promised President Tinubu that the refinery would begin operations in 2023. Another senior official said: “Look at the flare! Look at the crude cargo! Look at the inspection visits! All meaningless.”
All efforts to get information from the Italian company, Maire Tecnimont yesterday were abortive as emailed enquiries sent to the media consultant of the company were not responded to at the time of going to press. But the oil minister Lokpobiri said the ceremony heralds the commencement of production of petroleum products after the Christmas break.
However, responding to LEADERSHIP Sunday’s enquiries, chief corporate communications officer, NNPC, Olufemi Soneye, said that over the past month, NNPC Ltd had released a three-part documentary detailing completed works, equipment installation, and mechanical completion of the Port Harcourt Refinery.